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Transcript

Egwugwu

Who are they?

Ewugwu in Things Fall Apart

  • symbolize the culture of the Umofia
  • masked, respected elders
  • seen as ancestral gods
  • listen to the complaints of the people
  • determine punishments
  • each one of the 9 represent a different village of the clan
  • leader is referred to as "Evil Forest"

"Each of the nine egwugwu represented a village of the clan. Their leader was called Evil Forest. Smoke poured out of his head" (Achebe 89).

  • While the Evil Forest is actually the location where they lay the people thought to be not normal or sent from the devil, the egwugwu leader is also recognized by this name

Example Trial

  • Trial between Uzowulu (husband of Mgbafo) and the 3 brothers of Mgbafo
  • The brothers claim that Uzowulu beat Mgbafo, so they took her away from him
  • Uzowulu wanted the brideprice back because she, as well as their children, left him
  • The egwugwu decide in favor of Mgbafo

"And then the egwugwu appeared. The women and children sent up a great shout and took to their heels. It was instinctive. A woman fled as soon as an egwugwu came in sight" (Achebe 89).

  • The actions taken by the members of the Umofia tribe, specifically the women and children, shows the fear they feel towards spirits. It represents their fear of the unknown-- they do not know who makes up the members of the egwugwu, however they do suspect Okonkwo to be among them.

"When all the egwugwu had sat down and the sound of the many tiny bells and rattles on their bodies had subsided, Evil Forest addressed the two groups of people facing them" (Achebe 90).

  • The egwugwu deal with the conflicts between members of their clan
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